Angel Reese was a bright spot in Team USA's rough game against Team Italy

Nobody said it was going to be easy, and Angel Reese and Team USA found that out on Sunday. The team went up against Team Italy in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, and it was a nail-biter, with Team USA narrowly getting the win, 55-52.

While the ladies from the U.S. struggled on Sunday, Reese was a bright spot. She finished with eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

It's Reese's defense that really soared. Her defensive presence helped Team USA avoid a huge upset from Italy.

Angel Reese's defense helped Team USA survive Italy

Reese's scoring helped, too. With those eight points, she was Team USA's second-highest scorer, only behind Jackie Young with 10 points. When it came to defense, her two blocks and one steal also really helped in this super tight game.

Reese was also perfect from the free-throw line. She drew fouls and went 4-of-4, helping the team get points on the board when it wasn't doing it during plays.

The game wasn't without negatives, though. Reese committed three turnovers on the floor. But the good things she brought to the floor outweighed that blemish.

"It wasn't our best outing, especially on the offensive end... you have to be able to win different ways in this tournament because every team plays different," Team USA coach Kara Lawson said, according to USA Today. "It's clear we've got some improvements to make. So, we'll just go back to work."

Team USA is back at it against Czechia on Monday, Sept. 7.